THE INTEROCEANIC CANAL PROBLEM 93 



current of opposition to all Nicaraguan canal measures 

 tended to prevent successful legislation ; now came the 

 preliminary Walker report, which, though cheerful and 

 hopeful in tone, told a discouraging story of costs and diffi- 

 culties to be met. Congress began to look to Panama ; 

 perhaps, after all, it would be unwise to ignore the enticing 

 promises of the French company. 



Panama had not been examined for many years ; indeed, it 

 had never been investigated in the thorough and complete 

 manner in which the Walker commission had surveyed 

 Nicaragua. The same could be said of the other Central 

 American routes, formerly considered within the realms of 

 possibility, but long since abandoned. Possibly Nicaragua, 

 with her load of annoyances, could be cast aside, and another 

 and better route discovered. At all events, it were better to 

 act upon full knowledge of all the conditions upon the isth- 

 mus, than to commit the nation to a route which might 

 eventually prove less desirable. A further and more com- 

 prehensive investigation of all the possible routes was felt to 

 be the proper course to pursue. 



The State Department was embarrassed. Each year, when 

 the canal bills were under discussion, the Secretary felt the 

 awkwardness of the diplomatic situation in which the country 

 was likely to be placed. Congress had a way of framing bills 

 in matters relating to the canal question, and of giving utter- 

 ance in the freest manner to policies, which were not in accord 

 with the legal obligations of the country placed upon it by 

 treaty stipulations. In short, the legislative branch of the 

 government in this respect often worked to cross purposes 

 with the executive, while Great Britain anxiously looked 

 on with a protest ready for filing the moment Congress 

 succeeded in converting its ship canal theories into law. 

 Clearly, if Congress were determined upon building, owning, 

 fortifying, and controlling a Central American canal,- some- 

 thing must first be done in the matter of amending the 

 Clayton-Bulwer treaty. Delay was necessary, obviously 

 another commission was the thing ! 



On the last day of the session, the day upon which the 



